Plaster is a wall covering that goes over drywall or gypsum board. You apply plaster wet and once it dries, paint the wall the color you desire. A proper plaster installation will allow you to skip the first sanding step before painting. Learning to install plaster properly can take several years of training. When installing plaster, keep the environment at 55 degrees F, and avoid installing it during humid days.
Instructions
1. Mix your plaster compound with water according to the manufacturer's instructions. Lay the wet plaster out on a flat surface in a mound so you can easily scoop it onto your trowel and hawk. Fill a bucket with water and place it next to the plaster mound.
2. Dip your trowel in clean water and spread it around the surface of the hawk to keep the plaster from sticking. Scoop two trowel-fulls of wet plaster mix onto the hawk and walk over to the wall.
3. Scoop half a trowel-full of plaster off the hawk onto the trowel so the plaster is in the center of the trowel along the front edge.
4. Press the front edge of the trowel into the wall, then press the trowel into the wall as you scoop upwards to spread the plaster. Keep applying even pressure as you bend your knees and scoop down the wall over the smeared plaster, spreading it to the floor boards or molding along the floor.
5. Refill your trowel and move along the wall, pressing the wet plaster into the middle of the wall and spreading it up and then down with even pressure. If you notice any seaming or uneven scoop lines, smooth them out with your trowel.
6. Use a stepladder to reach the spots on the wall above your arms reach. Spread the plaster horizontally with the trowel, smoothing the area where the vertical strokes meet the horizontal strokes.
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